Carpenter s flooring-tongs



(No Model.)

W. R. FORESTER.

GARPBNTBRS FLOORING TONGS.

No. 258,738, Patented May 30, 1882.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

WILLIAhI R. FORESTER, OF BAKEBVILLE, TENNESSEE.

CARPENTERS FLOORlNG-TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,738, dated May 30, 1882.

Application filed March 6, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, W. R. FORESTER, of Bakerville, in the county of Humphrey's and State of Tennessce,have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin GarpentersFlooring-Tongs; and I do herebydeclare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in carpenters ceiling and flooring tongs; and it consists in the combination of a pair of tongs or jaws which fasten on the studding, joist, or sleepers, and one of which has fastened to it an angular piece for the purpose of pushing the board into its place before it is nailed, a brace which catches against the studding or sleepers after the boards are pressed to their place and prevents the tongs from giving way while nailing, and a suitable holding device for holding the jaws together, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which will hold the boards while they are being nailed on the floor, wall, or ceiling,

. and which will force them together in such a manner as to dispense with all necessity for driving the boards together by hammering upon their edges with a hammer, hatchet, or

other tool.

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same.

A represents the two metallic jaws, ora pair of tongs, which are pivoted together in the usual manner, and which have their shorter ends formed into sharp points B, so that the tongs can be fastened to the studding, joist, or sleepers to which the flooring or ceiling is being attached. These jaws are forced apart, when free to move, by a suitable spring, 0, (such as here shown, or any other kind,) and which jaws, when closed together, are held by the ratchet-slide D, which is pivoted upon one of the jaws and passesthrough a guiding-loop, E, upon the other. I do not limit myself to the particular form of catch here shown, for this may be varied at will. The form here shown, however, is preferred, becausea slight touch upon the pivoted end will release the jaws, so that they can be instantly thrown apart by the spring 0. Secured to one of thesejaws is the L- shaped piece E, which serves to catch against the edge of the board and to force it toward those which have already been secured in place, and thus dispense with the necessity of hammering the edge of the board with a hammer, hatchet, or other such tool.

Pivoted upon the outer side of one of the jaws, but preferably theone to which thecatch is pivoted, is a brace or sharp-pointed lever, F, the lower end of which catches upon the studding, thejoist, or the sleeper for the purpose of preventing the tongs from giving way while nailing. This brace is also operated by a spring, G, which serves to keep the lower end of the brace forced inward toward the jaws. After the tongs have been madeto c itch upon the sleeper, joist, or studding, and have been pulled or pushed into the desired position, this brace catches against the joist or studding to which thejaws have been fastened, so that the jaws will remain in the position into which they were adjusted. By thus holding the tongs in any desired position by means of the brace the tongs will remain wherever placed, and thus leave the carpenter free, so that he can drive in nails wherever they are needed.

In using my invention the ends of the tongs or jaws are slipped down over the sleeper, studding, orjoist to a certain distance beyond the inner edge of the board that is being nailed into position, and the jaws are then closed as tightly as may be desired, in which position they will be held by the spring-actuated catch. The jaws are-then drawn or forced toward the board after the L-shaped piece has been made to catch against its edge, and the tongs then serve as a lever by which the board is drawn orforced into position against the other boards. While the jaws are being forced against the board the brace automatically catches against the top or outer side of the studding or joist, and thus looks or holds the jaws in position. As the boards are forced in position by having the L-shaped piece catch against their edges, there is no necessity for using a hammer or other tool for driving them together, whereby pivoted brace F, and spring G, substantially their edges are always more or less battered as shown and described. IO and injured. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in Having thus described my invention, I presence of two witnesses. 5 claim- WILLIAM RILEY FORESTER.

In a ceiling and flooring tongs, the combi- Witnesses: nation of the jaws A,piv0ted together, and GEO. H. PORCH, having the points B, the spring 0, catch D, T. J. NORMAN. 

